Province unveils latest highway plan

After 140 years of serving trains and automobiles, the bridge at Mira Gut is no more. And, the province has no immediate plans to replace the span that crosses the mouth of the Mira River. The bridge was closed and demolished this past summer after it was deemed to be structurally unsafe. - Cape Breton Post

Mira Gut bridge replacement not on list of new major construction projects

SYDNEY — Nova Scotia plans to spend $285 million in capital funding on highways, bridges and roads over the next fiscal year.

Of the monies to be spent on transportation infrastructure during the 2018-19 fiscal year, $115 million is dedicated to major construction projects, of which the majority are related to the province’s 100-series highways.

Just over $100 million is allocated to asphalt and resurfacing, while $29.1 million is for bridge replacement and rehabilitation and $20 million is being set aside for Nova Scotia’s gravel road program.

The major projects include access improvements to the Irving/Tim Horton’s Baddeck location along the TransCanada Highway and to the Lower River Inhabitants exit on Highway 104, intersection work on the Cabot Trail near Middle River and upgrades to 8.3 kilometres of the highway north of Ingonish Centre that is not in the national park.

While not making the major projects list, the province is allocating some cash for two Sydney-area projects, including upgrades to the intersection and signals at the west entrance to the Mayflower Mall.

Traffic signals and turn lanes are also to be installed at the intersection of Grand Lake Road (Sydney-Glace Bay Highway) and Yolanda Drive. That intersection is the only public access to the Kyte’s Hill housing division.

One notable project that didn’t make the list for funding is the Mira Gut bridge replacement. The bridge that spans the Mira River where it enters the ocean was deemed unsafe and closed earlier this summer. It was later demolished and now motorists looking to make their way from one side to the other must take both the Hornes and Brickyard roads.

Progressive Conservative MLA Alfie MacLeod, who represents the area in the Nova Scotia legislature, said he was disappointed not to see the bridge on the list of road projects.

“The government said we shouldn’t expect to hear anything about a plan until late 2018 and that really is not acceptable to the people of the community,” said MacLeod.

“I understand there are some challenges before moving forward, but at the very least there should be a community meeting held for the people affected by this to give them an idea of a go-forward plan – and if it is that a decision will not be reached until later, then why is that?”

There are an estimated 23,000 kilometres of highways and roads in Nova Scotia and more than 4,100 bridges.

Each year the province updates its five-year road plan, which is subject the budgetary approval.